On the first Friday of every month, the quiet and historic streets of Downtown Bryan are transformed into a unique stage to highlight local businesses, food, music, art, performances and community culture.
A renowned cultural district of Texas, Downtown Bryan is the heart and soul of the city of 90,000 residents. A short 10-minute drive from the Texas A&M campus, it’s a refreshing glimpse into the city’s history and culture. The quaint shops and locally owned businesses have a smaller, older town feel, serving as a reminder of home for some students from rural areas. Unlike College Station, Downtown Bryan boasts a lack of big-name and chain restaurants and shops, emphasizing the importance of fostering a close-knit community.
First Friday, Downtown Bryan’s monthly event, allows the community to come together to highlight Bryan’s art, culture, people and businesses in one place. The main street is closed off, car-free and instead filled with vendor stands and stages for local performers; the street lamps burn a little longer, shops keep their doors open and lights on a few hours past their typical closing time, and the bars that line the streets pour a few more drinks.
Catherine Buckner Busha’s Custom Cookies, where she is the owner, cookie decorator and shop operator, is located on the outskirts of Downtown Bryan on South Sims Avenue, just a few feet south of the train tracks. Buckner said that since Busha opened nearly two years ago, they have attended every First Friday.
“Our regular hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., but we’re staying open until 9 p.m. for First Friday,” Buckner said. “We always offer free samples of our cookie of the month and do some kind of deal… I change it every month. Staying open late helps a lot of people who don’t leave work until late… Since it’s always such a busy event, many people will often start here and then move on [to Main Street]which is beautiful.”
Since Busha’s is on the outskirts of Downtown Bryan, Buckner said the energy in the store changes between First Fridays and the monthly event is a successful event for her store. However, many who come to Busha’s are usually pleased to see that they carry other vendors’ products in the store as well, Buckner said.
“Sometimes it’s really crazy and we have huge crowds coming in at the same time, so it gets really loud and really hectic,” Buckner said. “Sometimes it’s pretty quiet, but most of the time, it’s a good steady flow of people coming in. It’s really nice to introduce other small businesses here because I know when I first started my business, I couldn’t I would have done it without others. people. I definitely wanted to show appreciation for other businesses to be able to have a space to sell their items.”
First Friday gives Bryan’s underserved businesses a chance to showcase what they can offer the community, Buckner said. Specifically, stores that don’t yet have a storefront can set up booths and tables on Main Street to get to know new customers.
“Downtown Bryan is up and coming — but I think there are still so many people who don’t know how many amazing businesses are down here,” Buckner said. “For some of these people, the main source of income is First Friday. It gives people something to look forward to at the beginning of each month.”
Haley Thurman, manager at Sparrow Lane, an expansive home decor and gift store, said community outreach is the best aspect of First Friday.
“I love it when people come in and say, ‘Oh, that’s my grandma,’ or ‘That’s my grandpa, and we’ve been telling them about the store,'” Thurman said. “I’m glad we can show them. I love it when people say “Hey, I was there last week, this is the friend I was telling you about”.
Thurman said First Friday is great for the city’s economy, but it also brings a sense of home to A&M for some students.
“We love it when people shop local, it helps us and it helps the whole community,” Thurman said. “Also, I just think it’s exciting for Aggies and college students to have a place to go that maybe feels a little more small-town and local. Just a kind of homey feel that can be missing.”
Psychology senior William Wetzel is the president of Maroon Steel – a steel band whose goal is to spread the Afro-Caribbean culture of Trinidad and Tobago around Bryan and College Station. Wetzel said it’s a tradition for Maroon Steel to play on First Friday and it’s the most attended shows.
“Being able to play in the street in the dark – it’s a very cool atmosphere.” Wetzel said. “To be able to have everyone show up and see everyone’s hard work come together for First Friday is really, really cool.”
Wetzel said of Maroon Steel, playing First Friday is different because they are able to engage the audience while they are moving with their music.
“Being able to see them take an interest in us and enjoy the music is different,” Wetzel said. “Instead of just playing to a seated audience.”
Wetzel said his favorite part of Maroon Steel’s traditional First Friday shows is seeing festival goers enjoy hearing the unique sound of the steel pan and a special moment between the band and First Friday attendees it’s when they play the War Hymn.
“The crowd is used to hearing music on First Friday, but when they see a steel pan it’s very different because it’s such a rare instrument,” Wetzel said. “A favorite moment of many in the band is playing the Aggie War Hymn and seeing the crowd start singing along with us playing.”
